This idea actually started a year ago when I was thinking of what I wanted to do for Easter pictures this year, and I had the idea to do a carrot patch. Then a number of weeks ago, my dad and I went looking for a “magical” spot on his land, and through brush and briars and weeds and trees, I saw the perfect spot. And my dad, being the amazing visionary he is, cleaned out this place and it became the spot that I saw in my mind. It will definitely show up more. And then my mom helped me pull all of the accessories together, and we created for a short time, The Carrot Patch. This little spot where the magic of Easter comes to life and children get to be children and let their imaginations run wild. And here are just a few of the adorable cuties who came out and gave life to this garden.

This weekend we celebrated our twins turning 10 with a Glow-in-the-Dark party. 10…they turned 10!! Where did the last 10 years go? Those years have brought us so much joy and I want them back again! We said after 10 we would stop doing big themed parties, so this one is hitting me pretty hard. I have had so much pleasure in planning each of their birthdays, so I’m going to take a few moments to recap the last 10 birthdays. 1 – Mickey and Minnie, 2 – Noah’s Ark, 3 – Dora and Diego, 4 – The Circus, 5 – The Peanuts Gang, 6 – Superheroes turn 6, 7 – Camp Cannon & Kyndal, 8 – Superstars (WWE and American Girl), 9 – All Stars (baseball), 10 – Get Your Glow On. God has blessed us so by giving us these two. I don’t know what I did to deserve them. I pray that God will continue to keep them under his wing, and their lives will bring glory to Him. Happy Birthday my loves!

I love this season of Easter that we are in, because as Christians, it’s the biggest event of our faith – Jesus’s path to the cross. This time of year has me reflecting often of that week leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection, that week we call Holy Week. And I think of those main events: the Last Supper, Good Friday, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection. But this week, I’ve thought mostly of Peter. I’m not sure there was another disciple so passionate about following Jesus, yet who he is so often remembered as is one who denied Jesus three times. And I wonder how many times WE deny Jesus. How many times do we skip church because we have something else to do? How many times do we participate in an activity that may not be pleasing to God, but we feel pressured by friends or don’t want to miss out on a good time? How many times do we not speak up for Jesus in fear of what others might think about us? It’s easy to point the finger at Peter and say our faith is stronger, but I dare say that Peter’s faith was as strong as a rock, after all, that is the name Jesus gave him. Though we confess in our hearts our love for Jesus, what actions of ours show our denial? Maybe we are not so unlike Peter after all.

“And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.”

This week was tough. We said goodbye to a dear, sweet, Godly man from our church. But this season that we are in represents new life…hope. We are approaching the Easter season, a time to reflect on our Savior’s journey to the cross and what that means to us who believe. So, as I was explaining to my kids this week, sometimes life gets us down. Sometimes we face sorrow. Sometimes we get depressed. Sometimes we have to say goodbye to someone we loved. But Jesus is our Joy, and we can take comfort in knowing that we are His.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

I just realized I never blogged this beautiful senior’s photo session. And it was my first time venturing into this setting and exploring the different magical secrets it offered. A definite must go back to some time. And since we are talking about exploring the unknown, this scripture seemed quite fitting.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse”